Job summaryThis role is a fixed term maternity cover starting from January 2027 and ending October 2027.External Interviews will be held on 30th September 2026.The NHS England Long Term Plan included a commitment to implement the recommendations made by Dame Christine Lenehan that, by 2023/24, children and young people with a learning disability, autism, or both, with the most complex needs will have a designated Keyworker. South East London ICB was one of a small number of 'early adopter' sites delivering this new way of working to support the most vulnerable children and young people who are inpatients or at risk of being admitted to hospital or placement breakdown.The SELECT Keyworker Service is now embedded into the work of the ICB and operates across three teams (Lambeth & Southwark, Lewisham & Greenwich, Bexley & Bromley) with established children and young people Dynamic Support Registers across all six boroughs. We are looking for a suitably experienced Service Manager who will use their skills, knowledge and experience to provide leadership and direction to a team of Keyworkers who are dedicated to ensuring 'at risk' children & young people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism are able to access the immediate help and person-centred support they need to avoid inappropriate hospital admissions.
Main duties of the jobThe Service Manager will continue to embed this relatively new service into the work of the Integrated Care System, helping it to achieve a key NHS target of avoiding inappropriate hospital admissions, working to the NHSE Minimum Standards for Keyworking Services.
This will involve:
- Supervising a team of Specialist Keyworkers and providing ongoing support to the wider service of Keyworkers;
- Continuing the work of extending support for young people aged 0 - 18 to those aged 18-25;
- Overseeing and participating in ongoing Coproduction Projects in the service;
- Embedding our new Outcome Measures Framework;
The SELECT service continues to embed their practice model using AMBIT and Person-Centred Planning. The Service Manager will have strong supervision skills and be committed to the ongoing development of good practice and development opportunities for the service.
About usThe South East London Integrated Care System (ICS) brings together the health and care partners that serve our vibrant and highly diverse populations resident in the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Greenwich - our Places.Our partnership brings together six local authorities, over 200 general practices (operating within 35 Primary Care Networks), Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS FT, King's College Hospital NHS FT, Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, South London and the Maudsley Mental Health FT and Oxleas FT. Importantly, the ICS seeks to be connected to the communities we serve (circa 1.92m residents) and work with the widest possible range of community, voluntary and third sector groups and organisations in each borough. The reach of our NHS provider portfolios extends beyond the borders of the ICS, across London, the south of England and nationally for some services.
DetailsDate posted: 02 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £66,274 to £73,496 a year
per annum inclusive of Inner HCAS
Contract: Secondment
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 487-SELICB-1067-A
Job locations: Tooley Street, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2TZ, United Kingdom
Job responsibilitiesPlease see the attached job description and person specification for full details of the duties and responsibilities of the role including :
About You: Do you have a real passion for making a difference and positive impact for young people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism up to the age of 25? Are you a professional who can lead and inspire a team and a broad network of delivery partners? Do you have a good record of managing staff and working with complex networks of multi-disciplinary teams?
You will be a reflective professional who will bring relevant experience of leading or managing services working with CYP who have Autism and/or a Learning Disability and are often seen to have behaviour that challenges. You have experience of, and a commitment to, multi-disciplinary working with CYP, their families, carers, and networks of professionals. You will be an innovative individual with a passion for service improvement. You will have a profound understanding of the needs of young people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism and their families.This role is suitable for a wide range of qualified practitioners who may wish to develop their managerial or leadership potential, e.g., Social Worker, Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Speech & Language Therapist, Teacher, with experience of working at a senior level and with experience specific to Autism, Learning Disabilities and children & young people (0-25).
For a discussion about the role or if you have any questions, contact Gerry Baker Gerry.baker@selondonics.nhs.uk and Magda Beaver magda.beaver@selondonics.nhs.uk
Person SpecificationEducation / QualificationsEssential- Educated to master's level or equivalent level of experience of working at a senior level in specialist area
- Evidence of continued professional development.
Skills & AbilitiesEssential- Ability to work across organisations, influence and develop close working relationships with key stakeholders across stakeholder networks
- Knowledge of risk management and clinical governance
- Ability to critically analyse practice and identify and implement improvements
- Must be able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive contentious information, negotiate with senior stakeholders on difficult and controversial issues, and present complex and sensitive information to large and influential groups
- IT literate with skills for the use and application of information technology systems including file management, safe and effective internet use, Microsoft 365.
- Ability to make decisions autonomously, when required, on difficult issues, working to tight and often changing timescale
ExperienceEssential- Experience of managing a multi-disciplinary team and leading operational change
- Experience of working a complex environment and interpreting complex information
- Experience of working in an environment relating to children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both and their families including experience in undertaking comprehensive, evidence based assessments and developing personalised care and support plans
- Experience of service development
- Experience of working at system level across organisational boundaries
ExperienceEssential- Experience of managing a multi-disciplinary team and leading operational change
- Experience of working a complex environment and interpreting complex information
- Experience of working in an environment relating to children and young people with a learning disability, autism or both and their families including experience in undertaking comprehensive, evidence based assessments and developing personalised care and support plans
- Detailed understanding of relevant legislation e.g. The Children and Families Act 2014, Health and Social Care Act 2012, Mental Capacity Act.
OtherEssential- Tenacity: demonstrates high levels of self-belief, drive, enthusiasm and stamina to achieve goals and see things through
- Needs to have a thorough understanding of and commitment to equality of opportunity, valuing diversity and good working relationships both in terms of day-to-day working practices, but also in relation to management systems.
- Demonstrates knowledge of working in coproduction with children and young people and families:
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer detailsEmployer name: NHS South East London Integrated Care Board
Address: Tooley Street, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2TZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.selondonics.org/
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Learning Disability and Autism Lead, Gerry Baker, Gerry.baker@selondonics.nhs.uk
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions. 
